Silver Spring Scene: Under Control

Metro has plenty of extra staffers out on the streets of downtown Silver Spring. They are directing riders to the Red Line shuttle buses at the M bus bay on Dixon Avenue.

Most frequently asked question? "Where's the bus go?" said a Metro worker. Bus shelters and poles along Wayne Avenue are posted with hand-written white signs directing people to the shuttle service, which thankfully is not on congested Wayne Avenue, as it was last night.

The Red Line bus shuttle is stopping at all the closed stations except Takoma, connecting up with the Red Line at Rhode Island Avenue Station. A special Ride On bus, also stopping at the M bus bay on Dixon Avenue, takes riders to Takoma.

One thing I don't recommend: Taking the train down from Glenmont to Silver Spring. Not many people are doing this, and with good reason. It's a long, uphill walk from the Metrorail station in Silver Spring to the shuttle bus stop.

The line for the shuttles lengthened considerably at about 7:45 a.m. and now stretches for about three quarters of a block. Buses are coming frequently, but they are not stacked up, so the wait line is building.

The Metro Extra, a limited stop bus that takes riders from a stop on Wayne Avenue and down along Georgia Avenue to the Archives area downtown, is packed.

Post editor Anne Bartlett reports that traffic on 16th Street NW in the Silver Spring area is heavier than normal but moving.

Parking note: There is plenty of parking in the garages near the Silver Spring Station. Parking is either by Montgomery County permit or by meter. These are not Metro garages.